West Virginia governor announces funds for state parks, including Blennerhassett Island
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PARKERSBURG - Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park will receive $300,000 from the state to replace the service barge and tugboat used to deliver supplies and equipment to the island.
It’s part of approximately $19.725 million in investments announced by Gov. Patrick Morrisey this week aimed at modernizing, repairing and expanding facilities across West Virginia's state parks, forests and outdoor recreation areas.
"West Virginia's tourism industry is reaching new heights, and our state parks and forests are a big part of that success," Morrisey said in a news release. "We're going to keep investing in the places that bring people here, support our local businesses, and show the rest of the country what makes West Virginia so special."
The announcement comes as West Virginia's tourism economy reaches record heights, generating $9.4 billion in economic impact last year, the release said. West Virginia welcomed 78.4 million visitors, who generated $6.8 billion in visitor spending and supported 61,728 jobs across the Mountain State. The funds include $9.725 million from the FY27 budget surplus and a proposed $10 million in projects through the West Virginia State Parks Endowment Fund Board.
Blennerhassett Island State Park will receive $300,000 to replace its service barge and tugboat, the GiGi, which provide the only reliable way to deliver supplies, equipment and other goods to the island.
Blennerhassett Park Superintendent Craig Pyles was surprised and very pleased when the announcement was made while he and the other park superintendents were gathered at Kanawha State Forest earlier this week.
At first, he had no idea why they had all been asked to be there.
"Once there, (during his presentation) he starts releasing all of these great projects that were going to be completed in all of these various state parks," Pyles said. "It caught me out of the blue."
Pyles said the barge is an important lifeline for transporting equipment and other large items to the island.
"What really surprises me is someone had the forethought to recognize the one vital link, that if it goes down it would shut the park down," he said.
The original barge was received back when the park was established in the 1970s. It was originally built as a ferry between Powhatan Point, Ohio, and Pig Run, West Virginia, just south of Moundsville, Pyles said. The barge is 20 feet wide by 60 feet long.
"The barge itself is over 50-years-old, and we are having to nurse it along and baby it," Pyles said. "A normal barge's lifespan is 15-20 years."
The Blennerhassett Bridge goes across the island, but there is no way to access the island from that span, so the barge is the primary link to get equipment, trucks, horses, concession materials and other things to the island.
A new barge will mean more reliability and dependability, he said adding they are hoping to get something similar in size to what they have since two pickup trucks can fit on it.
With the state of the current barge, park officials can only run it at certain river levels.
"So a new barge will allow us to run at different river levels, move more and be more efficient for the park overall," Pyles said.
The park does not have a time frame yet on when they will receive the new barge. Pyles said West Virginia Division of Natural Resources personnel and engineers are looking into it.
"I am just thrilled to death that this was announced and it is a possibility that it is happening," he said.
If the funding allows for it, he is hoping to get a barge/pushboat combination.
"We are very appreciative to the governor in selecting us for this project," Pyles said. "It will really help us in the future tremendously.”
Other funding in the governor’s announcement include:
* $4 million for paving and repairs to campsites, driveways, parking lots and walkways throughout the State Park system.
* Little Beaver State Park, $3 million for construction of a new 34-site campground and electrical improvements to nearby existing campsites.
* Pipestem Resort State Park and Cass Scenic Railroad State Park, $150,000 for roof replacements on aging cabins and historic company houses.
* Twin Falls State Park, $2.275 million for comprehensive cabin renovations, lodge HVAC upgrades, and upgraded cabin interiors and mattresses.
* Chief Logan State Park, $3 million to replace a deteriorating 20,000-gallon-per-day wastewater treatment plant serving the lodge, cabins, recreation center and future facilities.
* Canaan Valley, $1 million for snowmaking equipment enhancements, allowing for a higher volume of snowmaking throughout the skiable area.
* $2 million to replace aging sand filtration components and enhance wastewater treatment plants throughout the State Park system.
* Cacapon Resort State Park, $3 million for wastewater collection system repairs and necessary plant upgrades serving the lodge, cabins, golf course and other recreational facilities.
* Hawks Nest State Park, $1 million to rehabilitate the lower tram building, including renovations to the gift shop, restrooms and boat rental concession area.
"These investments are about building on our momentum," Morrisey said. "When people visit West Virginia, they spend money in our communities, support our small businesses, and experience firsthand why this is such a great place to live, work, raise a family, and visit. We want to give them even more reasons to come back."